38 comments:

Isn't that embarrassing for all the parties involved ? Is there no shame left in the tiny sad pathetic world that is magic marketing ? Does anyone understand gravity ? Does anyone have some tape so I can perform a miracle NOW ?Seriously, how do I now get that 2 mins + back ?

Man that trailer is misleading. The bit from about 35 seconds in. Coin goes "in", cut, close up of coin definitely inside the glass, cut, coin coming back out of glass. That is some good old fashioned dishonesty right there.

The funny thing is I came to this page right after seeing a thread on a magicians group initially saying how good they thought this was, followed by a growing number of people saying "It is so obvious how this is done" and all those who had sung its praises having bought it saying "SHHH! NO EXPOSURE!"

I brought this and I have to say, although I had guessed the method I was pleased with the download. Alex and the other guy on the video go into plenty of detail into the effect. I think there are some hidden gems in this download and many have been too quick to judge! My personal opinion, and this is only my personal opinion is that it looks great. I have performed it for my girlfriend, she was floored! She is brutally honest about magic too :-/ It may not be something that you like but their is no need to be ass holes about it, especially you Neil, its seems to me from your video you need to discover 3 things urgently, 1 a razor, 2 a treadmill and 3 human interaction. You have got way too angry over this think you are in desperate need of a friend (ones on the computer don't count). Just because you were clearly bullied in high school for being a overweight ginger angry prick, doesn't give you the right to take out your anger issues on other peoples hard work, if you had a life you would find better things to do. Enough said, why be haters?

"Why be haters"? That's a really good question, considering you're being one - anonymously, too. Just because your girlfriend was "floored" by this trickt hat does not make this a good one, and the whole point is that this is an effect that a site is CHARGINGfor. If someone asked a random person on the street how this is done, "double-sided tape" is something they would have replied jokingly. The fact that that's actually how it's done, and people are being asked to pay for it, is ridiculous and such a serious, well-known site should hold thremselves to higher standards

Speaking of holding oenself to higher standards, you're telling Neil about the things he needs to do, so let me tell you what you need to do, since we're apparently all doing an honesty group session here: you, dear anonymous, need a sense of eloquence, a decent personality, and the balls to stand by what you say instead of being an anonymous fucking troll on the Internet. Attacking someone's appearance, really? You'd stoop THAT low? That's charming, really.

And regarding bullying, since you want to bring it up, that is usually done by people like you - as seen here. I bet it gives you a little power buzz, doesn't it, being all mouthy to strangers on the Internet? Ahh, that feeling ofpicking on someone's appearance trying to hrut their feelings, isn't that grand? What life is all about, such PURPOSE and MEANING. *sarcasm*

People that use the web as their only way to feel superior are the people that usually have absolutely no control in their real lives, so I reckon maybe you need to take your own advice, go out and play in the sun, and try to make some friends that can hopefully give you a hug and that validation you obviously never got from your parents as a child.

You need to learn to disagree with others without being a nasty little bastard about it and resort to personal insults, because that's what grownups do, you see. Then again, you sound like you're fifteen so you probably haven't learned that valuable life skill yet. It's okay, it'll come with age...hopefully.

That's some finely tuned double standard you have there Anonymous. Thinking a magic trick is crap and not worth $9 makes us assholes and haters, but it's OK to have a go at people for their size, their hair colour and the fact that they have a beard? Oh and let's not forget making negative assumptions about their history and friends. You sir, are a great example of an asshole, and you didn't even have to dislike a crappy magic trick to prove it.

Maybe Neil is right, is that you Alex? or maybe just another Elusionist sycophant who thinks things are awesome just because Elusionist released it.(Holy crap, you don't think it's Alex's mum do you PMSL)

I can't see how anyone could possibly defend Ellusionist in this issue. This coin in glass trick is something that belongs in book of tricks or on a DVD of "25 Easy Tricks You Can Do." The pathetic part is that magicians have become conditioned to believe that this is the proper way to learn/sell magic.

By way of comparison, "The Poker Test," by Erik Casey is being sold for $25.00 and can be viewed here:

http://youtu.be/ud0iPUKXzhM

The cost is irrelevant from a purchasing point of view. If you're a teenager, then you can mow an extra lawn (or shovel an extra side walk) to get the extra money. Further, I'm not a rich man, but throwing away $9.00 or $25.00 will neither make nor break me and I believe that the overwhelming majority of magicians can say the same.

However, "The Poker Test" is absolutely worth 100 times the value of that silly, little coin in glass trick. I'm not suggesting that "The Poker Test" is worth $900.00, I'm saying that this Ellusionist trick is worth 25 cents.

In regard to the anonymous poster's comments above, I'd never nor heard of Neil prior to watching his video. And while I know nothing of 'anonymous' I fully believe that Neil could take anonymous apart so fast that he could video tape it and sell it to Ellusionist as their next awesome magic trick. I think it would sell better than that silly coin through glass garbage.

"I fully believe that Neil could take anonymous apart so fast that he could video tape it and sell it to Ellusionist as their next awesome magic trick. I think it would sell better than that silly coin through glass garbage."

They're having a big discussion about it over at The Magic Café and Alex himself is trying to defend the product as it is for the most part getting torn up there as well. In one of his post he says "Please be respectful. If its not for you, I understand, if it is up your street I think you will live the download and get a lot from it!"

Be respectful? Ha! He hasn't earn the reputation for people to show him respect and with an effect like CTG it doesn't look like he is going to anytime real soon. Some very interesting conversations about Ellusionist, advertisement laws and their breaking thereof happening on the same thread as well on pages 2 & 3.

There are of course a few suck asses like Anonymous up there who need to discover #3 things of their own: 1. The dick up their ass. 2. ....eh, I was only kidding, they only just needed to discover that one.

Let's face it, magic nowadays is full of bottom feeders and their sycophants selling absolute tosh to the unwary.

I don't go near the Cafe any more because it's awash with these morons.

Having said that young Alex is just a victim of firms enticing youngsters who have more ideas in their heads (even if not that good) than the people who flog this stuff. You can't blame him if he submits his idea and somebody decides to use it.

I remember one firm, not Ellusionist, who seem relatively well regarded but sold a coin bend which was effectively you making an unconvincing coin shell from aluminium foil..an idea that I am sure many of us have played with and discarded over the years.

I love how the younger generation takes a one second throw away and treats it as if it were the most serious piece of art ever farted from a brain. Don't get me wrong, I believe strong magic should be presented to MAXIMUM effect. But it might be nice if people started to understand that a poorly cooked potato chip is NOT the same as a featured course from a cutting edge 5 star restaurant. Of course, it might help if the kids had a grounding in basic magic to know the difference. Coin through glass can be a stunner - IF presented casually as the props would (to a thinking being) indicate. The BEST coin through glass was created by a now deceased Texas magician. A handful of people had the pleasure of learning it. It will drop your jaw. Unlike the crap at Ellusionist.

PS. ALso, I would LOVE for these kids to actually name the "top magicians" who allegedly rave about their trick via "email." Are they real world workers or cafe personalities with thousands of posts? Are they magicians that real world working magicians respect, or glorified magic dealers who sell crap and are known because of their marketing, not their chops.

Of course, one must be careful. Did you know the video for DVS contains quotes that were made up? Was talking to two people who were quoted on that video, both denied ever saying what was said - one even has no recollection of ever being shown the trick. Heard that a third VERY well known magician's quote is also most likely fabricated.

If Alex's top name magicians had any real clout he would be yelling their names at the top of his lungs. Most likely they are just other cafe whores.

What a douche. Love his appeal to authority "Justin Miller likes it so who are you to disagree"

Justin Miller is an idiot who doesn't know trick construction from his own ass.

And Alex performs this piece in his shows? not like that he doesn't - unless his audiences are strapped to a chair and forced to watch. That over wrought, self important approach may work for narcissists performing for other narcissists (hence miller's vote of approval) but not in the real world of people who PAY to see magic.

Magic DEALERS need to stop misrepresenting themselves as performers. Justin Miller is a magic dealer. He knows how to perform magic for magicians and then sell it to them. . As someone who does make their entire living performing for audiences in the real world - meaning they PaY me to perform, I'm not according people through their car windows - it saddens me to see magicians who might want to one day achieve success in the real world sold lies. This coin to glass is a trick for magicians. Sure, you could walk up to someone and do it and it might register puzzlement, but that is a far cry from what a professional must do on a daily basis.

Sounds like you are bitter.....My guess is the latest releases from Ellusionist being foreign guys is because of Daniel Madison bringing them talent from the UK. But go ahead and continue talking your BS instead of creating any magic yourself that is even close to being tolerable to watch. Bizzaro is the perfect name for you!

I like the effect. It made me chuckle and it looked pretty. Is it easy for us magicians to figure out? Of course. Unless you only perform for magicians then this shouldn't matter. What matters is what lay people think. You guys must be performing for a more crafty audience than I have these past 35 years.

I wouldn't use this as a solo piece, though. I'd probably tack it on the end of Miguel Angel Gea's "Coin through anything" effect.

I get paid to perform for smart people, smart people who are engaged and interested to see what i am doing. Sure, this might work for someone on the street who is more interested in not being mugged by this strange person who has accosted them and is forcing them to watch a stupid magic trick, but shouldn't magic hold up to a higher bar than that?

While one might be able to polish this turd by adding more coins or putting it with another trick - should they have to?

Shouldn't the 'creator' have worked out the kinks before he releases it for sale? Or, at the very least, shouldn't limitations be stated in the marketing ("a new phase to add to your coin to glass routine".)

How many tricks today do we see apologists defend by suggesting improvements after release? This shouldn't happen. But today being a magician is no longer about spending years on an idea and performing it for lay people for money or acclaim. Instead being a magician has become about rushing half baked ideas to market to make a little money selling to the less informed and receiving acclaim from other hobbyists.

Here is a free magic lesson; magicians and lay people have different priorities. If magicians love your magic, that doesn't mean you are a good magician, it means you are a good magic dealer who creates toys for magicians, not tools for real world performance.

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The comments in the comment section are not moderated or censored by me in any way, unless it is spam or spoils magic secrets. That doesn't mean that I agree with everyone. And if somebody claims something that is wrong or something that might hurt someone, leave me out of any legal issues that might develop from this.